The way we see it, holiday prep falls into a few distinct categories: Planning, Executing and Enjoying. Here are a few tips of how to use aromatherapy and essential oils to get you through.
Planning
Organizing and List Making: For us that starts with list making – lots of lists! Gift lists, food shopping lists, when-we’re-going-to-get-it-all-done lists and all the calendar management that goes along with it. When the list management takes over, we suggest rosemary essential oil for mental clarity and focus, along with peppermint for its ability to both energize your mind yet relax the nervous system. Study Buddy contains both, along with grapefruit essential oil for energy.
Thinking it all Through: Visions of sugar plums (or holiday bills) racing through your mind as you’re trying to fall asleep? Vetiver shuts it down every time. Mixed with sweet orange and ylang ylang in Dreamy it’s an alternative to lavender based The OG for general relaxation.
Executing
Physical Activities like Shopping and/or Wrapping/Packing: When it gets exhausting and all you want to do is sit down with a cup of cocoa, try a whif of palo santo essential oil, or anything with ginger, which seems to push burnout back. Citrus scents and essential oils also energize. Super Trooper’s bracing scent contains both palo santo and ginger, while Hop To It packs a healthy dose of grapefruit oil.
Calm Communication: Just need to sit quietly for a minute and write something meaningful in a holiday card? Tap into heavy resinous essential oils like vetiver and patchouli and take a few deep breaths before picking up your pen. Crystal Balm Paved By Angels contains patchouli with ylang ylang and creates a softer, calming vibe.
Enjoying
Hosting: If you’re cooking and prepping, extra smells can be distracting, so lean into whatever it is you’re making and just enjoy it – especially if it’s a nostalgic dish that brings back great memories. If you need something to add a touch of mystery or a sensuous note to the evening, try ylang ylang and jasmine. Crushed It aromatherapy balm contains both.
Attending: Are you heading into a social situation with dread or trepidation? Breathe in a scent that contains rose – either rose absolute or rose geranium - for a high-vibe boost before you walk through the door. Try Rosy Outlook Aromatherapy Balm or Just Love Crystal Balm. Rose not your thing? Any favorite scent that calms you and makes you feel good will work in this situation too.
Mix and match balms to find what combinations work best for you in different situations. Take a minute to decompress and/or visualize yourself “away from” or out of the situation that causing stress while deeply breathing in the scent.
* This article is for general informational purposes only. The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.